Due to requiring no input from the user, self-targeting is technically a subset of auto-targeting (where the user is the sole valid target). However, due to its prevalence it is included in its own targeting type for completeness and additional clarity.

It must be noted that although abilities with this targeting type can only target the user, it does not necessarily mean that the ability effects are necessarily limited to or will even affect them.

There are three subcategories for self-targeted abilities: buff effect abilities provide a beneficial boost to the user when activated such as an attack speed increase, point blank abilities are area of effect spells that usually affect a circular area around the user, and on-hit effect abilities apply a specific on-hit effect to their autoattacks which are usually single-use or temporary in duration.